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Managing smooth scouringrush and field horsetail in dryland cropping systems
Full text linkSmooth scouringrush and field horsetail are members of an ancient, spore-bearing vascular plant group that arose about 400 million years ago. They are perennial plants that can be troublesome in no-till, dryland cropping systems. Although neither species competes strongly with fall-sown crops, thick stands of either species can significantly reduce yields of spring-sown crops. Their presence in the field at harvesttime can result in high sickle bar wear and discoloration of chickpea seed. Both species are toxic to livestock, particularly horses. This publication discusses the biology and management of these two Equisetum species in dryland cropping systems of eastern Washington
15 Elementary Korean Tunes for the Beginner Violinist
Full text linkThis project aims to develop a beginner violin book containing 15 well-known Korean children's tunes and folk songs. Combining familiar melodies allowed novice violinists who are new to the violin to participate in the instrument more effectively and enjoy a culturally rich learning experience. This study aims to explore how Korean traditional music elements can be incorporated into the Western violin repertoire
2024 Cost and Return Estimates of Establishing, Producing, and Packing Cosmic Crisp® Apples in Washington
Full text linkThe results presented in this WSU publication serve as a general guide for evaluating the feasibility of producing Cosmic Crisp® apples grown on two training systems - angled V and vertical spindle - in Washington State as of 2024. This publication is not intended to be a definitive guide to production practices, but it is helpful in estimating the physical and financial requirements of comparable plantings. Cost and return estimates in the enterprise budget also vary depending on its intended use. To avoid drawing unwarranted conclusions for any particular orchard, readers must closely examine the assumptions made in this guide and then adjust the costs, returns, or both as appropriate for their own orchard operation
FROM FIELD TRIALS TO MOLECULAR STUDIES GIBBERELLIN-MEDIATED SEED YIELD ENHANCEMENT, VERNALIZATION RESPONSIVE GENES AND RAPID SPRING GREEN UP IN POA PRATENSIS
Full text linkKentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is an economically important cool-season turfgrass species that supports multimillion-dollar seed and turf industries in the Inland Pacific Northwest. However, rising winter temperatures have shortened cold exposure and vernalization, resulting in reduced seed yield. This dissertation integrates agronomic and molecular approaches to address seed yield loss and insufficient vernalization in Kentucky bluegrass, as well as to explore the use of plant hormone foliar applications for turf management. A two-year seed-production study tested RyzUp Smartgrass® at four dose–timing combinations on newly established Kentucky bluegrass production field of the commercial elite cultivar ‘Midnight’. A single fall spray of 35 g ha⁻¹ doubled first-year seed yield and increased harvested biomass by up to 144 % without altering thousand-grain weight, standard germination, or accelerated-aging vigor. Spring-only applications were not significant, whereas repeated 140 g ha⁻¹ spring sprays suppressed yield by 63 %. These results demonstrate that low-dose GA₃ delivered prior to winter dormancy promotes reproductive tillering under field conditions and can partially compensate for inadequate natural cold exposure, whereas excessive post-dormancy doses risk yield loss. To uncover genetic limits on vernalization responsiveness, full-length VERNALIZATION 1 (PpVRN1) and VERNALIZATION 2 (PpVRN2) were cloned, providing the first vernalization-pathway sequences reported for P. pratensis. Phylogenetic and motif analyses confirmed their placement within the canonical grass VRN1 and ZCCT clades, respectively. Quantitative PCR across six different cold-treatment regimes showed that PpVRN1 expression rises in parallel with acquisition of flowering competence, while constitutively high pre-vernalization PpVRN2 levels in ‘Midnight’ are associated with its vernalization requirement. Cross-species expression of PpVRN1 in both spring- and winter-type Arabidopsis thaliana lines lower their cold requirement, accelerated flowering, and up-regulated FLOWERING LOCUS T, establishing PpVRN1 as a conserved floral promoter across monocot-dicot boundaries. Together, these data position the PpVRN1–PpVRN2 module as a tractable target for breeding cultivars with customized flowering windows suited to milder winters. Finally, a split-plot, two-year turf trial evaluated the interaction of GA₃ and spring nitrogen on mature Kentucky bluegrass stands. A single early-spring GA₃ application of 0.5–1.0 oz acre⁻¹ improved National Turfgrass Evaluation Program quality ratings by up to 14 % and advanced visual green-up without perceptible color loss. In contrast, for dosage over 1 oz acre⁻¹ repeated sprays caused color rating decreased and no additional turf quality benefit. Spring nitrogen fertilizer at 49 kg ha⁻¹ independently boosted turf quality and color and partially masked GA-induced bleaching effects; however, GA × N interactions were not statistically significant, indicating additive rather than synergistic effects. The optimal fast green up strategy emerging from these experiments, which is one moderate GA₃ spray coordinated with standard nitrogen fertilization, offers a cost-effective tool for superintendents seeking rapid spring recovery while maintaining aesthetic standards
NARRATING THE JOURNEY ELEMENTARY STEM TEACHERS’ REFLECTIONS ON LEARNING TO IMPLEMENT INTEGRATED STEM
Full text linkThis phenomenological study explores the retrospective accounts of experienced elementary STEM teachers as they reflect on their early experiences implementing integrated STEM instruction. Despite growing national and global emphasis on STEM education, the preparation of elementary STEM teachers continues to fall short, often requiring educators to build their expertise on the job while teaching. Through qualitative interviews and focus groups with six teachers with prior experience working in STEM-focused schools and initiatives this study examines their recollections of the challenges they encountered as novices, the supports they drew upon, and their reflections on how their pre-service preparation influenced their readiness to teach integrated STEM. Findings indicate that teachers struggled with conceptualizing and implementing integrated STEM, aligning lessons with standards, and accessing necessary instructional resources. Many reported feeling underprepared due to inadequate training in interdisciplinary teaching and a lack of exposure to STEM pedagogies prior to taking up positions in STEM focused schools. However, they overcame these challenges through professional learning, peer collaboration, and administrative and community support. The study highlights the critical role of administrative support, professional learning communities, and external partnerships in sustaining STEM education. It also reveals that teachers’ personal beliefs, professional identity development, and student engagement served as motivators that helped them persist despite initial struggles. Participants expressed a need for significant reforms in elementary STEM teacher preparation, advocating for integrated STEM methods courses, extended field experiences in STEM schools, and explicit instruction in standards-based interdisciplinary teaching. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on STEM teacher education and offers insights into improving pre-service and in-service support for elementary STEM teachers. The study provides recommendations for policymakers, teacher educators, and school leaders aiming to strengthen STEM education in elementary settings by addressing systemic gaps in teacher preparation and suggestions for enhancing professional development opportunities
Ada County Resource Guide - Idaho
Full text linkCounty level and region-specific resource guides focused on mental health and substance use
Exploring Genderism and Academic Self-Efficacy among Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Full text linkThis study explores the intersection of gender identity, disability identity, and academic self-efficacy among college-aged students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Grounded in Crenshaw’s intersectionality theory and Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, this research examines how overlapping aspects of identity influence students’ perceptions of belonging, self, and engagement in educational environments. Historically, educational systems in the United States have been shaped by ableism, sexism, and other exclusionary frameworks, which continue to influence current learning spaces. Through qualitative interviews with three students enrolled in an inclusive postsecondary education program, participants shared personal reflections on gender, disability, and the factors that impact their confidence and motivation in high school and college. Participants identified barriers such as inconsistent implementation of individualized education plans, gendered expectations in peer relationships and classrooms, and the need to self-advocate in school. This research contributes to a growing body of work and showcases the importance of inclusive, identity-affirming practices in education and emphasizes the need for educators to intentionally dismantle gendered and ableist structures that hinder student success
ESSAYS IN DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
Full text linkThis dissertation comprises one chapter in Environmental Economics and two chapters in Development Economics. The Development Economics chapters address cattle health and production challenges in Kenya, aiming to improve economic well-being through framed field experiments and impact evaluation methods. The Environmental Economics chapter focuses on sustainability, examining quality–quantity issues in common pool resources CPR.The first chapter examines a CPR where appropriations deteriorate the quality of the resource and, thus, its impact on the exploitation of the CPR. Findings reveal that (i) higher quality of the CPR could induce firms to overuse the resource and (ii) first-period appropriations with abatement decrease in the regeneration rate. However, abatement induces an overuse of the resource when the quality of the CPR improves.The second chapter examines how women's empowerment influences livestock management and household well-being in Kenya, focusing on East Coast Fever (ECF) vaccination. Using a lab-in-field experiment, the study analyzes how decision-making autonomy and control over income affect vaccination choices. The results highlight the importance of resource ownership and suggest that policies promoting joint ownership and income rights can strengthen women’s decision-making and economic security.The third chapter provides market-based estimates of demand for the ITM vaccine against ECF in Narok County, Kenya. Using observational data, the analysis shows that demand is highly price-sensitive once endogeneity is addressed, with herd size emerging as a consistent driver of adoption. Remote households appear to mitigate higher access costs through bulk purchasing, highlighting economies of scale in vaccine use. These findings suggest that affordability, distribution constraints, and batch-size requirements remain key barriers to adoption